Animal-poke



(NoModeLy j i W. H. PARKER.

ANIMAL Pom;

Patented Oct. 6

B llorgcys.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM H. PARKER, OF \VEST, TEXAS.

ANlMAL-POKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,873, dated October6, 1896.

Application filed December 31, 1895. Serial No. 573,939. (No model.)

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIA H. PARKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Vest, in the county of McLennan and State of Texas, haveinvented a new and useful Animal-Poke, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to animal-pokes, and particularly to a combinedanimal poke and halter of simple, inexpensive, and eflicientconstruction whereby stock to which the device is applied are preventedfrom forcing through or throwing their weight against barbed and otherwire fences, and also whereby a halter strap or chain may be readilyapplied thereto to provide for securing the stock in their stalls whenstabled.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in thefollowing description, and the novel features thereof will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view of a combined poke and halterembodying my invention applied in the operative position to the head ofan animal. Fig. 2 is a detail view in perspective of the loop or bodyportion of the poke, forming the cheek and chin pieces thereof.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in both thefigures of the drawings. I The body portion of the device embodying myinvention consists of a metal loop, preferably of heavy wire or rod,having approximately parallel sides 1, adapted to form cheekpieces, andconnected at their lower ends by a chin-piece 2, which is disposed in aplane perpendicular to the sides 1. The blank forming this body portionis doubled upon itself at its lower end to form the chin-piece 2, havinga central integral loop or eye 4, after which the sides of thechin-piece are bent at right angles to form the cheek-pieces 1'. Theloop or eye 4 is designed to support a swinging hook 5, having barbs 6.

At the angles formed between the sides 1 and the chin-piece are coiledloops or eyes 7, which are thus disposed approximately in the planes ofthe sides of the chin-piece, whereby the nose-band 8, which isterminally attached to said loops or eyes, is arranged in the plane ofthe chin-piece and combines therewith to receive the nose of the stockin a manner identical with that of an ordinary halter.

The upper portions of the sides or cheekpieces are also provided withrearwardly-extending coiled loops or eyes 9, to which are terminallyattached the brow-band 10, crownstrap 11, and throat-latch 13, allsimilar to the corresponding parts of an ordinary halter, and engagingthe brow, head, and throat of cattle, as in the ordinary practice.crown-strap is preferably provided with an adj Listing-strap 12, such asa buckle, and the throat-latch is provided with a similar adjustingdevice 1i. The sides or cheek-pieces are extended above the loops oreyes 9 to form forwardly-cu rved horns 15, adapted to engage a barbedwire above the head of the cattle when the latter attempt to pushthrough a fence, while the depending hook 5 is adapted to engage thewires below the head of the cattle.

From the above description it will be seen that the body portion of thecombined poke and halteris formed of asingle blank of metal, wire orrod, and hence imparts a stiffness to the structure which enables it toresist any strain to which it may be subjected by the efforts of cattleto pass through a fence, while at the same time the construction of thedevice is such that it may be permanently attached to the stock andremain thereon, whether the stock is in pasture or stabled. Theadvantage of this is that it avoids the necessity of applying the pokesto cattle when they are turned out and removing the same when halteredin their stalls. The loop or eye 7 forms a suitable ring for theengagement of a snap-hook on an ordinary manger or stall chain or strap.

It should be noted, furthermore, that the device as described does notin any way interfere with the grazing of the animal or the feedingthereof when stalled.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is A combined halter andpoke having a frame The consisting of a metal rod doubled upon itself tothe upper loops or eyes, substantially as 10 at its center to form achin-piece and side or specified.

cheek pieces, said chin-piece being perpen- In testimony that I claimthe foregoing as dicular to the plane of the cheek-pieces and my own Ihave hereto affixed my signature in the latter being provided with upperand the presence of two witnesses.

lower pairs of opposite integral loops or eyes, WILLIAM H. PARKER. anose-band terminally connected to the lower Witnesses:

loops or eyes, and a brow-band, a crown- J. B. COOK,

strap, and athroat-latch terminally connected J. A. W'EST.

